Kay Koplovitz

From its beginning 12 years ago, USA has had one guiding force: Kay Koplovitz, a smart-looking visionary and former science major. Early on, she saw the potential of a cable network and has since become a much-admired business executive. Although she has kept the company in the black from year one, Koplovitz says the tough years were 1982-85, when so many other cable networks started up and the competition stiffened.

Veteran television executive Kay Koplovitz was named chairwoman of Reality Central, a new cable channel focusing on the "reality" TV genre. Reality Central is set to launch in mid-2004. Koplovitz founded USA Network and was chairwoman and chief executive of USA Networks. From Associated Press

In the largest defection at USA Networks since a takeover by Barry Diller in February, Kay Koplovitz, chairwoman and chief executive of the general entertainment cable channel, has resigned. The departure marks the beginning of an expected management realignment under the new owners. Koplovitz, a cable industry pioneer, built USA, the first advertiser-supported basic channel, from scratch in 1977 into one of the nation's most highly rated and valuable networks, reaching nearly 75 million homes.

In the largest defection at USA Networks since a takeover by Barry Diller in February, Kay Koplovitz, chairwoman and chief executive of the general entertainment cable channel, has resigned. The departure marks the beginning of an expected management realignment under the new owners. Koplovitz, a cable industry pioneer, built USA, the first advertiser-supported basic channel, from scratch in 1977 into one of the nation's most highly rated and valuable networks, reaching nearly 75 million homes.

Veteran television executive Kay Koplovitz was named chairwoman of Reality Central, a new cable channel focusing on the "reality" TV genre. Reality Central is set to launch in mid-2004. Koplovitz founded USA Network and was chairwoman and chief executive of USA Networks. From Associated Press

The network's schedule ranges from reruns of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Miami Vice" to original series such as "The Hitchhiker" and "The Ray Bradbury Theater." There are world-premiere TV movies and such non-classic oldies as "Cave Girl" and "Horror of the Werewolf." Children can find such cartoons as "She-Ra, Princess of Power" and "Magilla Gorilla," while sports fans can find early-round action of such events as the U.S. Open tennis tournament and golf's Masters Tournament.

Kay Koplovitz, president and chief executive officer of USA Network, will receive the Jerusalem Award of the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, Western Region, at a dinner Jan. 9 at the Beverly Hilton. Koplovitz has been active in National Junior Achievement, the New York City Partnership and the Partnership for a Drug Free America, and is a supporter of Shaare Zedek's efforts to bring health care to the people of Israel.

CBS Executive Moves to Cable: Rod Perth, head of late-night programming at the network since 1989 and one of the executives who helped hire David Letterman away from NBC, was named programming chief at cable television's USA Networks. In his position as president of USA Networks Entertainment, Perth will be responsible for the development and production of programming for USA Network, the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Pictures.

USA Networks Inc. said Stephen Brenner and Stephen Chao were appointed co-presidents to serve during Chairman and Chief Executive Kay Koplovitz's departure from the company she founded. Brenner, who has been with New York-based USA Networks for 16 years, was named president of operations, overseeing advertising sales, affiliate relations, finance and administration. Chao, an independent producer and a former executive at News Corp.'s Fox network, is president of programming and marketing.

Brian MacDonald has joined Pixelon.com in San Juan Capistrano as chief financial officer. MacDonald had been vice president of finance for Autobytel.com. Before that, he was with Long Beach Mortgage Insurance in Orange and controller for Long Beach Bank. * Kay Koplovitz has joined the board of directors of firstsource.com in Santa Ana. Koplovitz is chief executive of Koplovitz and Co. Media Investments, a firm specializing in new media investments.

From its beginning 12 years ago, USA has had one guiding force: Kay Koplovitz, a smart-looking visionary and former science major. Early on, she saw the potential of a cable network and has since become a much-admired business executive. Although she has kept the company in the black from year one, Koplovitz says the tough years were 1982-85, when so many other cable networks started up and the competition stiffened.

The network's schedule ranges from reruns of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Miami Vice" to original series such as "The Hitchhiker" and "The Ray Bradbury Theater." There are world-premiere TV movies and such non-classic oldies as "Cave Girl" and "Horror of the Werewolf." Children can find such cartoons as "She-Ra, Princess of Power" and "Magilla Gorilla," while sports fans can find early-round action of such events as the U.S. Open tennis tournament and golf's Masters Tournament.

Rod Perth resigned as chief of programming for the USA Network and Sci-Fi Channel, continuing the housecleaning in television operations since Barry Diller acquired them in February from Universal Studios Inc. Perth, formerly an executive at CBS, joined USA in 1994 and spearheaded the cable channel's forays into original programming with such series as "La Femme Nikita" and its first mini-series, "Moby Dick," which scored the highest ratings of any original entertainment production on cable.

USA Networks founder Kay Koplovitz was in Los Angeles last week speaking in front of a couple hundred attendees at a women's economic forum. But she was even busier behind the scenes, working with former California Treasurer Kathleen Brown to organize what could become L.A.'s first women-only angel investment network.